Nicoletti boosted his position by giving his campaign a $100,000 loan.

Both candidates spent heavily on television advertising. They have rolled out their first rounds of ads on network and cable TV.

Nicoletti and Miner showed the greatest fundraising and spending activity of the city's mayoral candidate pool in the most recent campaign finance reports, which were due by the end of the day Friday.

The reports showed Nicoletti and Miner each spent more than $25,000 to produce television advertisements. Both have ads running on cable and network television. Nicoletti spent another $25,810 on the purchase of TV air time. Miner's spending on her air time was not listed on her report. She said she has not yet been billed for it.

Miner, a common councilor at large and the party designee, enters the month before the primary with $246,910 in her account. Nicoletti, a former common councilor and assemblyman, has $181,556, including the $100,000 loan.

Nicoletti took the money from his personal resources and did not take a loan to do so, he said. A series of major fundraisers in upcoming weeks should relieve any remaining cash flow issues, Nicoletti said. If the campaign does not repay Nicoletti by Election Day, the loan becomes a contribution.

"How can I ask people to give to my campaign and support me if I can't demonstrate that I'm willing to make a personal sacrifice?" Nicoletti said.

Miner said her campaign has not let up on fundraising while adding focus to door-to-door campaigning and phone calls.

"Running for mayor is a multifaceted endeavor," Miner said. "And part of how well you continue to fundraise is about how well your message is resonating. My message is resonating."

Republican Party designee Otis Jennings brought in $14,969 since his last filing, giving him $125,085 to work with as he heads into a primary against challenger Steve Kimatian. Jennings's biggest expense was for billboard advertising, which cost $11,000.

Kimatian brought in $10,950, leaving him with $41,954. He spent $2,128 on radio advertising.

Finance reports for Democratic candidates Alfonso Davis and Carmen Harlow had not yet been posted to the state Board of Elections Web site as of 5 p.m. Friday.